By Derrick Ow — Reporter
Sports broadcasting usually involves game notes and a headset.
That was until the COVID-19 pandemic made the world pause back in March.
It was Halloween when I made my return to the broadcast booth for KSJS FM. My nine-month hibernation from the microphone ended when I broadcasted the San Jose State football game vs New Mexico.
As you can imagine, getting the chance to broadcast a football game made me feel like a kid in a candy store.
However, I felt more grateful than ever to have a chance to bring some joy into listeners’ lives. If this year has taught us anything, it is to enjoy the small moments.
On gameday, I drove from Salinas back to campus to pick up our audio equipment from our studio at Hugh Gillis Hall.
Walking on campus was an eerie feeling Where skateboarders and bicyclists once rode, Plaza de Cesar Chavez now sits in silence.
Hugh Gillis Hall once had hundreds of students coming and going. Now, there are stickers inside the empty hallway reminding students and staff to stay six feet apart.
The doors outside of our studio’s door require keycard access. Just shows how much life has evolved since March.
I met my broadcasting partner Michael Montijo at the studio. We drove to CEFCU Stadium where we made our first stop at the box office.
Remember when box offices were used to pick up tickets? Not in 2020, as the box office has turned into a temperature check station.
My temperature was measured at 97 degrees. We had to wear special wristbands to show SJSU athletic staff that we were cleared to call the game.
The athletic department set up about 6 tables throughout the lower bowl of the stadium. Writers sat close to the north end zone. Photographers were set up right at the 50 yard line. They put us at the 35-yard line.
We did wear masks for the entire game as required by Santa Clara County which was not as difficult as it seems.
Of course, my partner and I had to adjust our masks every time we gave a mighty “Touchdown Spartans” call.
Mistakes were made during our broadcast. For the both of us it was our first time calling a game in nine months. But broadcasting is like riding a bike. You can go a decade without riding that bike, but once you get on the seat it feels natural.
That is what broadcasting is for me. Calling a game gets my creative juices flowing more than writing does. Putting on the headset pushes all of the problems in the world for a couple of hours.
I do not know how many games I am going to call. The pandemic has taught me to never take anything for granted. I treat every game like I am calling the Super Bowl or the Masters Tournament.
This past weekend was magical for the Spartans. With a 34-17 win over UNLV they moved to 4-0 for the first time since 1955. I called that game as well, and you can sense the joy these student athletes have playing with each other. That joy is something we all need living in a pandemic.
Before I call each game I always like to pray for a moment of appreciation.
That prayer allows me to appreciate life right now. Calling a sporting event makes me realize that this gift can be taken away at any moment.
If this year has taught all of us anything is to be grateful for the gifts that we have now.
Follow Derrick on Twitter @Derrickq42
